Bank Holiday blues for league leaders

LEAGUE leaders Darwen hammered Preston by eight wickets to give the South Meadow Laners a real case of the bank holiday blues.

Put in to bat, Paul and Antony Mann took the score on to 16 before Paul Mann had to retire hurt after being hit twice on the hand.

The home side lost their first two wickets with the score on 22.

Then Ben Harrison was bowled by Darwen captain Jeff Hacking without troubling the scores.

Zubaire Patel and Paul Paynter redressed the balance with a third wicket partnership of 25 before Paynter was caught by Chris Lowe off Gareth Cordingley for 13.

Half the Preston side were dismissed for 68 when captain and professional Manoj Parekh was trapped lbw by Darwen professional Richard Petrie for eight.

As the score approached 99, Paul Mann returned to the wicket but three runs later Roger Kaye was run out without opening his account.

Seventeen-year old Giles Harrison and Paul Mann featured in an unbroken ninth wicket partnership of 23 as the Preston innings closed.

In reply, Darwen got a solid foundation of 49 before Graham Ainslie was caught by Giles Harrison off second charge bowler Roger Kaye for 34.

Darwen lost their second wicket at 65 when Chris Lowe was run out 16.

Richard Petrie and Gareth Cordingley featured in an unbroken third wicket partnership of 61 to see Darwen home to victory.

Petrie remained undefeated with 50.

He batted 52 minutes faced 50 balls and hit one six and five fours.

His partner Gareth Cordingley was 18 not out.

ZPreston face Chorley at Windsor Park on Saturday

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